Samurai
Samurai (Jap., derived from saburau, ‘to serve’). Warriors. Originally the word was applied only to noble warriors with good family lineage, but this became the common designation for warriors in the Tokugawa period. The appearance of warriors as a distinct class coincided with the development of the shōen system dealing with private proprietary land management. The inability of the central government to control the various provinces and districts allowed them to develop their own defence force, from which the warrior class evolved. The medieval tales of warriors, though highly idealized, glorified heroism, courage, honour, and loyalty to one's lord, which became the core of bushidō, the ethical code of the samurai class. Religion helped warriors resolve the question of life and death; see further MARTIAL ARTS; BUSHIDŌ.
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Samurai
